Passenger Cars

After a short hiatus, Holden has returned to the land of drop-top motoring with the new mid-sized Holden Cascada convertible. Priced from $41,990 plus on-road costs, the European sourced, four-seater is well-equipped, affordable and quietly handsome. But in the typically fashion-conscious convertible segment, brand allure counts for a lot, much …

Hyundai’s recent push to go upmarket saw the launch of the i40 sedan and wagon range in 2012. Designed for European markets, the well-built and classy i40 is the Korean car maker’s ambitious take on the midsize segment, which is brimmed full of accomplished rivals. Going against the Mazda6, Ford …

Toyota’s most popular car, and Australia’s number one selling vehicle – the Toyota Corolla hatch – has been given a nip-tuck for 2015. The mid life update not only brings revised styling but also a two-tiered model strategy to cater for all tastes. The entry-level Ascent and Ascent Sport variants …

The BMW 2 Series Convertible is the entry point to propeller-badged open top motoring. Replacing the 1 Series Convertible, the new drop-top sets out to continue the success of its predecessor, which had no real rivals during its time. The first generation established itself as the undisputed leader in its …

The Hyundai i30 is the showroom star of the fast growing Korean brand. Developed to take on segment favourites such as the Toyota Corolla, Mazda3 and Volkswagen Golf, the i30 has built up a loyal following in the two generations it’s been on sale. In June, it was the best-selling …

People mover is a category that usually gets overlooked for the more fashionable but functionally near identical SUVs. They don’t need to be boring, either. Take the new Citroen C4 Picasso, for example, it offers unique looks, a spacious interior and a decent drive. Featuring Citroen’s signature dual-chevron grille flanked …

The premium mid-size segment has never been so fiercely contended. Firstly, there’s the German establishment of BMW 3 Series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class and Audi A4. Then, there’s the Volvo S60 offering some Swedish luxury. From Japan, there’s the Lexus IS as a viable alternative. And soon the British will also join …

It has been a while since Peugeot produced a car that excites. The last one I drove was the 208 GTi in 2013 that finally brought some mojo back into the French company after a decade of ho-hum effort. The latest 308, launched earlier this year, not promises to carry …

For a brand that used to pride itself on building cars with 50:50 weight distribution and rear-wheel-drive, the embodiment of “the ultimate driving machine”, it would have been unimaginable in the past if we told you BMW was going to produce a front-wheel drive vehicle. But, here it is – …

The top spot on the luxury sports coupe podium has always belonged to the BMW 4 Series. For decades, Munich’s best-selling coupe has been the segment benchmark for style, performance and dynamics. While BMW is trying hard to defend its place from rivals Mercedes-Benz and Audi, another contender has risen …

Stopped at the lights next to me is a white boxy sedan with awkward, derivative styling, faded taillights and a grey plastic dashboard shinier than the over-exfoliated face of Kim Kardashian. It is missing one of its mudguards and specks of paint are peeling off from its boot lid, underneath …

After years of helplessly watching buyers rush to the Germans for their entry-level luxury sports coupes, Lexus has finally got a true contender in the ring. The first-ever Lexus RC is a genuine rival to the BMW 4 Series, Mercedes C-Class Coupe and Audi A5 heavy weights, with style and performance …

The Hyundai Genesis Sedan is the Korean brand’s most ambitious vehicle. Launched in Australia late last year, it is Hyundai’s first ever rear-drive, premium vehicle to grace the company’s local showrooms. While not strictly “all-new”, with the first-generation BH Genesis making its world debut in 2008, the second-generation DH is …

Toyota gave its baby hatch, the Yaris, a major facelift in 2014. Consistently one of Toyota Australia’s sales stars, the Yaris has found 186,000 homes since it arrived in late 2005, making it one of the most popular superminis in the country. However, with the ultra-competitive Hyundai i20 and the …